Trailer hitch for passenger motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

Trailer hitch mechanism attachable to the trunk area of a passenger type motor vehicle to support and provide means to connect a fifth-wheel type trailer thereto and provide mobile living quarters for people. Auxiliary supporting wheel means of a variety of types and embodiments are connectable to the passenger vehicle to augment the supporting capacity of the conventional rear wheels of the vehicle and thereby enable such vehicle, as distinguished from a pick-up truck, to support the relatively heavy weight of the forward end of said fifth-wheel type trailer without undue strain on the passenger vehicle, while providing the more comodious travel facilities of such passenger vehicle to accommodate a full contingent of occupants for which the vehicle normally is designed. Quick detachment of the trailer and auxiliary supporting wheel means from the vehicle readily restores the vehicle to the normal appearance of the vehicle with a minimum of effort.

United States Patent 91 Winter 1 Feb. 5, 1974 TRAILER HITCH FORPASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE [76] Inventor: Charles M. Winter, 2580 W.

Philadelphia St., York, Pa. 17404 [22] Filed: Aug. 25, 1972 [21] Appl.No.: 283,822

[52] US. Cl. 280/423 R, 296/23 R [51] Int. Cl B62d 53/00 [58] Fieldoi'Search ..280/423 R,423 A,415 B, 7 280/150 A,81 11,405; 296/23 MC,23R; v 267 /58,5 9

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,695,676 10/1972 Clark eta] 296/23 MC 3,664,679 5/1972 l-lille 280/81 R 3,393,922 7/1968 Adams280/423 R 3,390,896 7/1968 Philapy 280/423 R 3,332,678 7/1967 Carpenter267/58 R 2,682,420 6/1954 Chelf 280/423 R 2,647,761 8/1953 Kentz.....280/423 UX 2,558,311 6/1951 Morrow 267/58 R 2,051,522 8/1936 Graham280/423 R Primary ExaminerLeo F riaglia Assistant ExaminerRandall A.Schrecengost Attorney, Agent, or Firm-C. l-lercus Just [5 7] ABSTRACTTrailer hitch mechanism attachable to the trunk area of a passenger typemotor vehicle to support and provide means to connect a fifth-wheel typetrailer thereto and provide mobile living quarters for people. Auxiliarysupporting wheel means of a variety of types te n od men a e qnneeteb tthe Passenger vehicle to augment the supporting capacity of theconventional rear wheels of the vehicle and thereby enable such vehicle,as distinguished from a pick-up truck, to support the relatively heavyweight of the forward end of said fifth-wheel type trailer without unduestrain on the passenger vehicle, while providing the more comodioustravel facilities of such passenger vehicle to accommodate a fullcontingent of occupants for which the vehicle normally is designed.Quick detachment of the trailer and auxiliary supporting wheel meansfrom the vehicle readily restores the vehicle to the normal appearanceof the vehicle with a minimum of effort.

13 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PAIENIED FEB 51914 SHEET 1 0F 4PATENTEDFEB 51914 SHEET 2 if 4 PATENTED FEB 974 WET 3 m 4 PATENTEU 519?!sum u or 4 TRAILER HITCH FOR PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION For many years, it has been popular to undertake touring inpassenger type motor vehicles, including various types of sedans, andprovide living accommodations by towing various types of trailers whichare connected to the rear end of the vehicle by different types oftrailer hitchs, most of which included a ball and socket type ofconnecting means between a bracket connectable, for example, to the rearbumper of the vehicle and to tongue mechanism projecting from theforward end of the trailer. Many of the popular types of trailers aresupported upon either one or a pair of axles upon which attempts havebeen made to more or less balance the weight of the trailer but, ingeneral, at least a certain amount of the weight of the forward end ofthe trailer was imparted to the trailer hitch on the vehicle. Tofacilitate the accommodation of such additional weight being imposedupon the rear end of the vehicle, it is not uncommon to employ heaviersprings between the vehicle and the rear axle thereof.

As the popularity for using touring type trailers increased, there hasbeen a corresponding increase in the desire for more comodious typetrailers in which either more extensive accommodations for a greatnumber of people has been included or more comfortable and spaciousliving quarters have been included to add to the pleasure of suchtouring. This, however, has resulted in increased weight and size insuch trailers. To accommodate such increased weight and provide adequatepower to tow the same, in recent years, it has become quite popular touse pick-up trucks, such as one-half ton or greater capacity, to tow thetrailers. However, pick-up trucks normally have only a single seat typecab in which, usually at most only three people can be accommodated.Thus, in using pick-up trucks for such purpose, it is obvious that thenumber of tourists in each vehicle is extremely limited, notwithstanding the fact that the larger sizes of trailers can accommodatea greater number of people for living purposes than are capable of beingtransported in the cab of the vehicle.

With the advent of the use of pick-up trucks to tow particularly thelarger sizes of trailers used in touring, certain types of so calledfifth-wheel trailers have been developed and offered to the public.These trailers are provided at the forward end with a fifth wheel pivotpin which is adapted to be latched to a fifth wheel hitch platesupported by suitable frame mechanism attached to the bed of the pick-uptruck. Under such circumstances however, although the heavier and morecomodious types of trailers utilize such fifth-wheel hitch means forconnecting it to a pick-up truck, the very restricted accommodation fora limited number of passengers in the cab of the pick-up truckcorrespondingly limited the number of persons who could utilize suchmore comodious type of trailer. The weight and size of such largertrailers which utilize fifth-wheel hitch means normally have preventedtheir use in conjuntion with conventional passenger type motor vehicles,such as two door or four door sedans in which a greater number oftourist comfortably can be accommodated than in the single seatarrangement of the cab of a pick-up truck. Thus, even though fifth-wheeltype trailers can comfortably accommodate a greater number of touriststhan can be accommodated in the cab of a pick-up truck, it has not beenpossible heretofore to effectively utilize a passenger type motorvehicle, such as of the sedan type, to support the forward end of afifth-wheel type trailer and tow the same during touring or othersimilar operations upon highways, at least for any substanial distanceand at normal cruising speed, primarily because of such added weightbeing imposed upon the rear wheels of passenger type vehicles and atendency for the heavier type of trailers to whiplash, especially athigher cruising speed.

Further disadvantage of being required to employ a pick-up truck of aselected weight capacity to support and tow a fifth-wheel trailer isthat the average touring family does not own a pick-up truck but mostsuch families have at least one touring car, such as a sedan. A touringcar, because of its inability to effectively and safely support and towsuch fifth-wheel type trailer, cannot be used for such purpose and thusthe added expense of either puschasing or renting a pick-up truck isneccesary when using a normal type of fifth-wheel type trailer of thepopular types now offered the touring public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principle purpose of the presentinvention to provide a trailer hitch mechanism which may be mountedwithin the trunk area of a conventional passenger type motor vehicle,such as a sedan, and render the same capable of having the forward endof a relatively heavy fifth-wheel type trailer connected thereto forsupport of the forward end thereby, the additional weight imposed uponthe conventional rear wheels of said vehicle being supported by asupplemental axle which is either directly or indirectly connected tothe chassis frame of the vehicle and having at least one and preferablya pair of supplemental wheels pivotally connected to said axle.

Another object of the invention is to provide said hitch mechanism withframe means of which the dimensions are such that they preferably may becompletely contained within the trunk compartment at the rear end ofsuch conventional passenger type motor vehicle and concealed within saidtrunk compartment when the rear deck cover of the vehicle is in closedposition.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means by whichsaid afore-mentioned frame means may be directly connected to thechassis frame of the vehicle and supporting means, which include afifthwheel plate, are connected to and supported swivlly by said framemeans to render the connection of the trailer to the vehicle moreflexible, while permitting quick separation of the supporting means fromthe frame means when it is desired to disconnect the trailer from thepassenger vehicle as, for example, when the trailer is to be parked andthe vehicle is to be used solely for transportation of the tourists.

Still another object of the invention is to provide various mechanismsby which a variety of embodiments of supplemental axles and themechanism by which they are connected directly or indirectly to thechassis frame of the tourist type motor vehicle of the type referred toabove, the attaching means preferably being designed for quickattachment and detachment.

A still further object of the invention is to attach a hitch frame tothe chassis of said motor vehicle and preferably connect the same to thechannels of said chassis frame for direct support thereby, preferablybelow the same, and including intermediate means by which thesupplemental axle and the wheel means thereon may be interconnected tothe chassis frame of said vehicle through the medium of said hitchframe.

Still other objects of the invention are to provide a number ofdifferent embodiments of spring means by which the supplemental axle andthe wheel means supported thereby are resiliently connected eitherdirectly or indirectly to the chassis frame of the vehicle so as to becapable of readily supporting shocks imposed upon said supplemental axleand wheel means incident to the same traversing roadways and the like,thus providing such supplemental axle and wheel means with independentspring supporting mechanism and thus not further burdening the springsby which the conventional rear axle and wheels of the passenger typevehicle are connected to the chassis frame of the vehicle.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as otherobjects thereof, set forth in the following specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of anexemplary passenger type motor vehicle provided with hitch mechanism andembodying the principles to the present invention and to which theforward end of a fifth-wheel type trailer is connected in operativerelationship.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen generally on theline 22 of FIG. 1 and utilizing a substanially larger scale thanemployed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly broken away, showing therearward end portion of the passenger vehicle illustrated in FIG. 1 on asubstantially larger scale than on said figure and showing in greaterdetail certain aspects of the hitch structure than are possible to beseen in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a transversely foreshortened exemplary and fragmentary rearelevation of the vehicle shown in FIG. 3 as seen on the line 44 thereonto illustrate one embodiment of spring support means for thesupplemental axle and wheels thereon.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a supplemental axle arrangementconnected to the chassis frame of a vehicle by means similar to thoseshown in FIGS. 3 and 4 but in which the supplemental axle is long enoughto support the auxiliary supporting wheels laterally outward beyond theconventional wheels of the vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation of another embodiment of supplemental axleand wheel means for the passenger type vehicle from that illustrated inFIGS. 3-5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the further embodiment of axleand wheel means illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary and partially sectioned rear elevation of stillanother embodiment of supporting means for a supplemental axle and wheelto be connected to the rear end of the chassis frame of a passenger typemotor vehicle.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the embodiment of supplementalwheel struture shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary rear elevation of still another embodiment ofsupplemental axle and supporting wheel arrangement which is connected tothe vehicle chassis by means of a hitch frame fastened to the rearportion of the chassis frame, said embodiment being provided with aswivel.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary rear elevation of an embodiment similar to FIG.10 but in which only a single auxiliary wheel is employed.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary side elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG.12 and in which the hitch frame which supports the wheel is illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated aconventional passenger type motor vehicle 10 which is exemplary of thetype of motor vehicle to which the trailer hitch mechanism of thepresent invention is adapted to be applied. As shown in said figure, themotor vehicle 10 is a four door sedan but, for example, the invention isequally applicable to a two door sedan or any other type of passengermotor vehicle, except a station wagon, capable of accommodating agreater number of people than the cab of a conventional pickup truck forexample. Connected to the rear end of the motor vehicle 10 is anexemplary fifth-wheel type trailer 12 which is illustrated as being ofthe type adapted to accommodate, for example, four or more people. Thatnumber is greater than can be accommodated in the cab of a conventionalpick-up truck. Because of the ability of the trailer 10 to accommodateat least four adult individuals, the size of the same is such that itnormally cannot be supported and towed by the normal hitch and couplingmechanisms employed to connect the average, smaller sizes of trailers toa conventional passenger type motor vehicle.

By way of comparison, normal sizes of trailer of the type conventiallyand frequently coupled to the rear end of a motor vehicle for towingthereby, when coupled thereto by conventional coupling means, other thana fifth-wheel type of coupling, will have an overall length substaniallyequal to that illustrated in FIG. 1 in the exemplary manner. However,such conventional trailer will not include the forward portion of thetrailer 12, for example, which overlies the trunk portion of the vehicle10 as illustrated in FIG. 1, in view of the fact that such conventionalcoupling means comprises a tongue which extends forwardly from the frontend of the trailer and is connected to a hitch or coupling extendingrearwardly past the rear bumper of the vehicle and including a ball andsocket connecting means to permit ready pivoting of the trailer relativeto the rear end of the vehicle. Accordingly, it can be seen from thisthat there is substanial advantage to using a fifth-wheel type oftrailer in view of the fact that the forward compartment portion 14thereof comprises an additional bedroom capable of accommodating atleast two people without increasing the overall length of motor vehicleand trailer over the length of a conventional motor vehicle andconventional trailer of the type normally coupled to a motor vehicle andusually only including a single bedroom and that is usually of the typetransformed into sleeping conditions from a table and bench seatnormally at one end of the trailer.

Adding such forward compartment portion 14 to the trailer 12 however soincreases the weight thereof that the normal or conventional rear wheels16 and the springs whichconnect the same to the chassis of the vehicleare inadequate to effectively support such weight for any substantialdistance. Accordingly, heretofore, it has been conventionally necessaryto utilize a pick-up truck of suitable weight rating to acccommodateappropriate hitch mechanism which is mounted directly upon the floor ofthe rear bed of such truck for purposes of supporting a fifth-wheelplate to which a fifth-whee] pin on the forward end of the fifth-wheeltype of trailer is pivotally connected. Such pick-up trucks are providedwith suitable spring strength and rear wheel capacity to effectivelysupport the forward end portion of a so called fifth-wheel type trailer.The disadvantage of such arrangement is, however, that only a verylimited number of passengers can be accommodated in the single seat ofthe cab of such pickup truck, usually at most three adults, and evenwhen three ride in such seat, crowding conditions usually prevail.Accordingly, even though such fifth-wheel type of trailer is capable ofacccommodating four or more adult persons, the'cab of the pick-up truckcannot acccommodate them and transportation laws in a number of statesforbid passengers to ride in a trailer being towed by a tractor vehicle.

As indicated above, therefore,,the principle purpose of the presentinvention is to provide improved hitch mechanism adapted to attach afifth-wheel type trailer to the truck area of a conventional passengertype motor vehicle and especially a sedan which has front and rear seatstherein in order that the greater capacity of a fifth-wheel type trailermay be utilized to the fullest while acccommodating that number ofpassengers comfortably within the seating arrangement of a conventionalpassenger type motor vehicle and thereby provide maximum touring comfortto the occupants of the vehicle while traveling and permit them to enjoythe more comodious acccommodations of the trailer when utilizing thesame when the vehicle and trailer are parked. In addition, when thetrailer 12 is disconnected from the improved hitch mechanism 18, whichis acccommodated within the trunk compartment 20 of the passengervehicle 10, the rear deck cover 22, which is shown detached from thetrunk compartment 20 in FIG. 1, may be used to completely conceal thehitch mechanism 18 after the cover 22 has been restored to pivotalarrangement relative to the trunk compartment 20, in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

In accordance with the preferred principles of the present invention,the hitch arrangement 18 is of a type which can be sold in kit form andconnected relatively quickly and securely to the chassis frame, such asthe suitably to the horizontal angle members 28 as can be readilyvisualized from FIG. 3.

For purposes of securing the hitch mechanism 18 to the channels 24 ofthe chassis frame, appropriate angular brackets or cleats 32 areconnected to the lower faces of the horizontal angle members 28 andflanges thereof extend perpendicularly downward along the outer surfacesof the channels 24 and are connected thereto by appropriate bolts 34.The upper flanges of the brackets 32 may be firmly secured to thehorizontal lower flanges of the angle members 28 by welding, riveting orotherwise. When the brackets 32 have been connected to the channels 24of the chassis frame in the manner described above, the frame means 26are effectively secured against lateral movement relative to oppositesides of the vehicle.

The upper ends of the frame means 24 have short horizontal members 36integrally connected thereto and respectively projecting outwardly inopposite directions for purposes of having U-shaped seat members 38connected thereto which respectively pivotally receive trunnions 40which are connected to and extend from the opposite ends of a horizontalsupport member 42 upon which the U-shaped fifth-wheel plate 44 isintegrally connected intermediately of the ends of the member 42. Theplate 42 is of conventional type and includes latch members 46, see FIG.2, which engage the angular, reduced portion 48 of fifth-wheel pin 50which is secured to the lower end of supporting block 52, which issecured to and projects downwardly from the lower surface of the forwardcompartment portion 14 of the trailer 12'. Removeable pins 54 preferablyextend through the opposite legs of the seat members 38 and overlie thetrunnions 40 to prevent upper movement thereof from the seats of members38. From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the forward endof the trailer 12 is connected to the rear trunk portion of thepassenger type motor vehicle 10 for pivotable movement about thevertical axis of the fifthwheel pin 50 and upward separative movement ofthe forward end of the trailer from the hitch mechanism 18 is preventedby the operation of latch members 46 relative to pin 50.

It is readily apparent from FIG. 3 in particular that when the forwardend of trailer 12 is removed fromthe wheel plate 44, for example, theupper end of the hitch mechanism 18, which includes the fifth-wheelplate 44, is no higher than the upper confines of the trunk compartment20 of vehicle 10, whereby when the rear deck cover 22 is pivotallyconnected in normal manner to the rear trunk compartment 20, the hitchmechanism 18 may be completely concealed therein. Furthenfif desired,separation of the forward end of trailer 12 from the trunk compartment20 of vehicle 10 may be undertaken by leaving the fifth-wheel plate 44connected to the fifth-wheel pin 50, whereby when the pins 54 areremoved from the seat members 38, the horizontal support member 42 alsomust be removed from the frame means 26 and remained connected to theforward end of the trailer 12, thereby providing the trunk compartmentwith great capacity for accommodating other items, including luggage,althouth there is ample space within the trunk compartment even when thesupport member 42 remains connected to the seat members 38.

Another important and essential feature of the present inventioncomprises the provision of a supplemental axle and auxiliary supportingwheels unit having pneumatic tires thereon, and means to connect saidaxle either directly or indirectly to the chassis frame of the vehicle,preferably by quickly attachable and de tachable means, to supplementthe supporting capabilities of the conventional rear wheels 16 of thevehicle and the springs by which they are supported. By such means, thesupporting capabilities of the conventional rear wheels and springs ofthe vehicle, which are inadequate to support the forward end of thefifth-wheel trailer, are supplemented sufficiently to enable therearward portion of the vehicle to very capably sup- .port such weightof the forward portion 14 of the trailer 12 for long periods whiletraveling at high speeds. The present invention provides a number ofdifferent embodiments of supplemental axle and auxiliary supportingwheel units which are shown in FIGS. 3-12.

The embodiment of said supplemental axle and auxiliary supporting wheelunit illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises a horizontal supplementalaxle 56 having auxiliary supporting wheels 58 mounted on bearings atopposite ends of the axle. Suitable connecting means 60 extend aroundthe axle S6 and also around the intermediate portions of leaf springassemblies 62. Elongated connecting brackets, such as structural angles61, are connected to the chassis channels by bolts 61' for quickattachment and detachment. Transverse members 63 extend across thechassis and are connected fixedly to the opposite ends of brackets 61.The forward ends of the spring assemblies 62 are pivotally connected tobrackets 64 which are directly connected to and extend downwardly fromthe channels 24 of the chassis frame. The opposite ends of the springassemblies 62 are connected by conventional spring shackles 66 tosuitable brackets on the rearward ends of connecting brackets 61, asbest shown in FIG. 3, adjacent to the rear bumper 68.

It will be seen from FIG. 3 that the diameter of the auxiliarysupporting wheels 58 is less than that of the conventional rear wheels16 of the vehicle 10. Under circumstances where the length-of thesupplemental axle 56 is such that the auxiliary supporting wheels 58 arespaced apart substanially the same distance as the conventional wheels16, said auxiliary supporting wheels will track behind the conventionalwheels 16 when the vehicle 10 is moving. Depending upon the nature ofthe rear fenders of vehicle 10, appropriate openings may have to be madein the rear lower portions of the conventional rear fenders at oppositesides of the trunk compartment to accommodate the upper portions of theauxiliary supporting wheels 58. However, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, aslightly modified embodiment is illustrated in which the supplementalaxle 56 is longer than that referred to above, as a result of which theauxiliary supporting wheels 58, which are mounted on opposite ends ofaxles 56, extend laterally outward beyond the conventional rear wheels16 of the vehicle, which are illustrated in diagramatic manner in FIG. 5in order to simplify the view. Under such circumstances, if desired,simple, supplementary arcuate fenders 86, such as shown somewhatdiagrammatilcally in FIGS. 4 and 5, may be secured by appropriate meansto the outer surfaces to the conventional rear fenders at the oppositesides of the trunk compartment 20 by quickly attachable self-tappingscrews, or otherwise, in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, a still further embodiment of supplemental axle andauxiliary supporting wheel arrangement is illustrated in which it willbe seen that the supplemental axle 72 is provided with opposite endportions 74 which are laterally offset from the axis of the centralportion 72 of said axle. The laterally offset end portions rotatablysupport the auxiliary supporting wheels 76 which, like the auxiliarywheels 58 of the preceding embodiments, preferably are smaller indiameter than the conventional rear wheels 16 of vehicle 10. Attachingbrackets 78, which are angle members, have one flange of each connectedto the rear end portions of the channels 24 of the chassis frame, byappropriate bolts 80 to support transverse member 79, such as astructural channel member. Plates 81 are securely welded to the ends ofsupport member 79 and to which the upper ends of axle brackets 83 arefixedly connected by rivets or bolts 81'. The rear portions of the axlebrackets 83 have suitable bearings 82 connected thereto which receivethe supplemental axle 72 adjacent the offset outer end portions thereof.Spring suspension means of a number of kinds are provided for theauxiliary supporting wheels 76. Representative of such suspension meansare torsion springs 84 which are shown extending around portions of thesupplemental axle 72 adjacent the bearings 82. One end of each of saidsprings, for example, is non-rotatably connected to the axle 72, and theopposite end is non-rotatably fixed relative to the chassis frame, suchas by being connected to a portion of the bearings 82 or the axlebrackets 78. A desired amount of tension is produced in the springs 84when they are installed. It also is to be understood that other types ofsprings may be used, such as compressible coil springs, air springs,leaf springs, or otherwise, including appropriate connecting andsupporting means, in all embodiments.

The spring arrangements referred to above are highly suitable to permitthe auxiliary supporting wheels 76 to withstand shock imposed upon thesame incident to traveling along a highway, or the like. Also, theposition of the offset portions 74 of the axle 72 may be such that thewheels 76 will track in line with the conventional rear wheels 16disposed forwardly therefrom or, if desired, the offset end portions 74of axle 72 may be disposed sufficiently apart that the auxiliarysupporting wheels 76 will be positioned laterally outward beyond theconventional rear wheels 16 of the vehicle. Under such lattercircumstances, the auxiliary supported wheels 76 may have supplemental,arcuate fenders 86 positioned in spaced relationship with respect to theupper portions of said wheels. The supplemental fenders 86 may beappropriately secured to the outer fenders 88 of the trunk compartment20 as illustrated in limited manner in FIG. 6.

Still another embodiment of arrangment of supplemental axle andauxiliary supporting wheels thereon is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. Inthis arrangement, the auxiliary supporting wheels 90 are transverslyspaced apart but a shorter distance than in the various precedingembodiments, as is evident from FIG. 8. To support the wheels 90, aswill be seen on FIG. 9, a pair of offset type axle brackets 92respectively are secured at one end, by bolts 94, to the rear endportions of the channels 24 of the chassis frame. The outer ends 96 ofsaid brackets extend below the bumper 68, for example, and projectrearwardly therefrom to support a horizontal member 98 which, forconvenience, may be in the form of a metal plate. The opposite ends ofthe plate 98 may, for example, be firmly secured to the outer ends 96 ofthe axle brackets 92 by providing inwardly extending flanges 100 on theouter ends 96 to receive connecting bolts 102.

Connected to and projecting rearwardly from the horizontal member 98 area pair of bearing brackets 104 which are secured to the member 98 byappropriate bolts 106. The bearing brackets 104 support supplementalaxle 108, the outer end portions 110 of which are offset laterally fromthe axis of the central portion of the axle 108 for purposes ofreceiving appropriate bearings upon which the auxiliary supportingwheels 90 are mounted. As in certain of the preceding embodiments, thediameter of the wheels 90 is less than that of the conventional rearwheels 16 of passenger vehicle 10. Also, as will be seen from FIG. 9,the lateral extensions on the supplemental axle 108 extend downward andrearward from the axis of the central portion of axle 108.

The auxiliary supporting wheels 90 and the supplemental axle 108 whichsupports the same are tensioned to project in a downward direction bymeans of suitable springs such as coiled torsion springs 112 which areclearly shown in FIG. 8. One end of each spring, for example, may beanchored fixedly to the bearing brackets 104, while the opposite endsthereof are firmly secured to the supplemental axle 108. It will beunderstood that the direction of convolutions of the springs are such asto urge the wheels 90 downwardly and thereby enable the same to augmentthe cushioning effect of the springs which support the conventional rearwheels 16 incident to shock being imposed upon the wheels 16 and 90incident to traveling along a highway or the like.

In FIGS. 10 and 11 a still further embodiment of supplemental axle andauxiliary supporting wheel arrangement is illustrated which involvesswivel means. Also, for purposes of providing a different type of meansto connect the auxiliary supporting wheels of the embodiment of FIGS. 10and 11 to the chassis frame, an additional or supplemental connectingmeans 114 is provided which comprises a hitch frame. Said hitch frameextends slightly below the rearward portion of the channels 24 of thechassis frame. Referring to FIG. 10, the hitch frame 114 comprisestransverse members 116 which extend between the oppostie channels 24. Apair of the members 116 preferably are employed, in parallelrelationship to each other, as shown in FIG. 11. If desired, andespecially for strength coupled with reasonably light weight, thetransverse members may comprise rectangular structural tubes of suitablegauge. Connected to the opposite ends of the members 116 are downwardlyextending bracket members 118 which, if desired, may be formed fromsililar structural elements as the members 116. The upper ends of thebracket members 118 may be flatened to facilitate the connection thereofto the channels 24 by bolts 120.

The hitch frame 114 also includes rearwardly extending means in the formof a frame member 122 which is best shown in FIG. 11. Said member, inthe preferred embodiment, is a tubular structural member which isrectangular in cross section, the widest dimension preferrably beinghorizontal. The member 122 is suitably connected to the transversemembers 116 of the hitch frame, preferrably intermediately of the endsthereof, by any suitable means such as welding, or otherwise.

The rear end of the member 122 preferrably extends rearwardly from therear-most member 116 and, if desired, may extend beyond the rear bumper68.

Suitably supported within the rearwardly extending member 122 is anadjustable rearward member 124 which, in cross section, is complimentaryto the interior cross section of the member 122. Member 124 is securedin longitudinally adjusted position with respect to member 122 byinserting one or :more transverse pins or bolts 126 through alignedholes formed respectively in the sides of the members 122 and 124. Oneof said members, for example, may be provided with a plurality of saidholes spaced longitudinally along the members to permit desiredlongitudinal adjustability between the two members.

The outermost end of member 124 supports a transversely extendingbracket plate 128 which is rigidly fastened to the member 124. Ifdesired, the plate 128 may be braced by a suitable small angle plate130. The opposite ends of plate 128 have a pair of similar angular bracemembers 132 extending rearwardly therefrom and rigidly connectedthereto. The lower edges of the brace members 132 are connected to theopposite ends of a horizontal member 134 which is centrally bored toreceive a swivel pin 136. Immediately below member 134, a suitablebearing 138 is mounted upon the swivel pin and the lower end of the pinis connected to a lower horizontal plate 140 which, for example, may besimilar in size, if desired, to horizontal member 134.

The plate 140 supports at opposite ends thereof a pair of bearing blocks142 between which extends a supplemental axle 144, the opposite ends 146of which preferrably are offset transversely even distances and projectaxially in opposite directions to support auxiliary supporting wheelswhich, as will be seen from FIG. 10, are relatively close together.

As in regard to some of the preceding embodiments, the auxiliarysupporting wheels 150 are spring-biased downwardly, or clockwise asviewed in FIG. 11 by means of suitable springs such as spiraled torsionsprings 152. One end of said springs, for example, may be anchored tothe plate 140 or the bearing blocks 142, while the opposite ends thereofare suitably anchored securely to the supplemental axle 144. In view ofthe details of the structure set forth above, it will be seen that thearrangement shown in F108. 10 and 11 comprises a swiveled arrangement ofauxiliary supporting wheels which offers substanial support to augmentthe support provided by conventional rear wheels 16 of the vehicle 10 tosustain the weight of the forward end of the fifth-wheel trailer 14. Itwill be understood that the direction of the coils of the springs 152 issuch as to urge the wheels 150 downwardly as described above. The swivelpin 136 readily enables the wheel unit of said embodiment, which isconnected to the :hitch frame 114 by the swivel pin 136, .to verycapably and appropriately track behind the rear end of the passengervehicle 10 incident to cooperating with the conventional rear wheels 116in supporting said trailer 14.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, another embodiment of auxiliary supportingwheels to augment the supporting effect of the conventional rear wheels16 of the vehicle is illustrated. This embodiment in many respects issimilar to that shown in FIGS. 10 and l 1, particularly in regard to thehitch frame 114,. details of which are the same as those shown in FIGS.10 and 11, whereby the various elements of said frame are provided withthe same reference numerials and no additional detailed descriptionthereof is repeated with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 12 and 13,being understood that the foregoing description may be referred to withrespect to said details. The mechanism secured to the rear end ofadjustable rearward member 124 is different in the embodiment of FIGS.12 and 13 over that shown in FIGS. and 11 however, said details being asfollows.

Secured to the terminal end of adjustable rearward member 124 is avertical plate 154. A horizontal pivot plate 156 is connected by anappropriate hinge clevis 158 to the lower edge of plate 154. Extendingvertically upward from pivot plate 156 is a compression plate 160 whichis rigidly connected thereto and is suitably braced by a pair ofexemplary angled bracing plates 162 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

The horizontal pivot plate 156 is centrally bored to receive a swivelpin 164 which extends through aligned holes in pivot plate 156,anti-friction thrust bearing 166, and the connecting member 168 of yoke170. Extending between the outer ends of the opposite legs of the yoke170 is a supplemental axle 172 which supports a single auxiliarysupporting wheel 174 for swiveled movement about the vertical axis ofthe swivel pin 164.

For purposes of providing the supporting yoke 170 and wheel 174 withcapabilities of absorbing shock imposed thereupon by normal travel whenthe vehicle 10 is towing the trailer 14, exemplary spring means areprovided in the form of a pair of compression springs 176 which extendbetween the opposing faces of the vertical plate 154 and compressionplate 160. Said springs preferrably are of substanial capacity inaccordance with the weight of the trailer which the springs 176 arecalled upon to support while augmenting the supporting capacity of therear springs of the vehicle 10 which support the conventional rear wheel16 of said vehicle. If desired, a guide rod 178 may be anchored at oneend for example to the vertical plate 154 and extend through each springto retain the same in operative position and insure against the springsbeing dislodged from their operative positions. The opposite end of theguide rods 178 may extend freely through appropriate holes formed incompression plate 160, for example.

In addition to the various embodiments of combinations of the type setforth above to withstand adequately the additional weight forces imposedupon the rearward portion of the conventional passenger type motorvehicle 10 by connection of the forward end of a fifth-wheel typetrailer thereto, safety and comfort is provided with respect to both thevehicle 10 and the trailer 12, as well as the occupants of the vehicle10 by the greater stability afforded the rearward portion of the vehicle10 by the auxiliary supporting wheels in a manner to minimize and orprevent whiplashing of the trailer relative to the vehicle while beingtowed thereby, even at high speeds. The particular design of the hitchmechanism 18 also contributes to such added stability.

Further in accordance with the principles of the invention, it isintended and contemplated that the hitch mechanism 18 and most if notall of the various embodiments of auxiliary supporting wheels andsupplemental axles therefor are susceptible to being manufactured andsold in kit form for adaptation, relatively quickly and at smallexpense, to the rearward portions of conventional passenger type motorvehicles to be used to tow a fifth-wheel type trailer. Further,.suchauxiliary supporting wheels and supplemental axle assemblies may bedisconnected from such passenger type motor vehicle by reversing theprocedure of connecting the same thereto. The hitch mechanism 18 alsoreadily may be disconnected from the trunk compartment of the vehicle byremoving the bolts 34, for exampie, from the brackets 32 and therebypermit the entire hitch mechanism 18 to be removed from the trunkcompartment. Any slots which have been formed in the floor 162 of thetrunk compartment, as shown in exemplary manner in FIG. 2, may easilyhave simple patch plates installed thereover. Under such circumstances,the vehicle 10 will have been restored substanially completely to itsoriginal condition, such as for resale purposes or otherwise.

From the description set forth herein above, it also is evident that theheight of the hitch mechanism 18 is such that it may be completelyhidden by being enclosed within the trunk compartment of the vehicle 10such as when the rear deck cover 22 is pivotally mounted in its normalposition relative to the trunk compartment when the trailer 10 isdisconnected from the hitch mechanism. However, when the trailer 12 isto be connected to the hitch mechanism, the rear deck cover 22 isquickly disconnected from its conventional hinge means and may becarried inconspicuously and conveniently adjacent to the under surfaceof the forward compartment portion 14 of the trailer 12, as illustratedin FIG. 1. Suitable brackets 180 are mounted upon said under surface ofthe trailer 12 to secure the rear deck cover 22 to the trailer. Ifit isdesired to utilize the vehicle 10 in a conventional manner when the"trailer 12 is disconnected from the hitch mechanism 18, particularly ifit is desired to cover the hitch mecha nism under such conditions, therear deck cover 22 may be quickly disconnected from the supportingbrackets 164 and hingedly connected in normal manner to the trunkcompartment of the vehicle 10, whereby the hitch mechanism 18 isconcealed thereby.

The entire auxiliary wheel units of the types shown in FIGS. 3-9 readilymay be removed from the vehicle 10 by removing the bolts, such as bolts61 shown in F IGS. 3-5, and the equivalent bolts of the embodiment shownin FIGS. 6 and 7, and bolts 94 in the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9. Thebolts illustrated specifically are intended to be representative ofquick-detachable and attachable connecting means, yet capable of firmlysecuring the wheel units to the chassis of the vehicle. In theembodiments shown in FIGS. 10-13, attachment and detachment of theauxiliary wheel units to and from the chassis readily is accomplishedsimply by operatively connecting or removing the pins or bolts 126 to orfrom frame member 122 and sliding adjustable member 124 and the wheelunits connected thereto rearwardly to separate it from member 122. Whenthe auxiliary wheel units and supplementary fenders have been removedfrom the vehicle and the deck cover 22 is mounted upon the vehicle, andclosed, all traces of the vehicle serving as a tractor for a trailerhave disap peared.

When the trailer is disconnected from the vehicle 10, conventional jackmeans 182 support the forward end of the trailer in a lever conditionand in position to have the fifth-wheel pin thereof engage the hitchmechanism 18 when towing of the trailer by the vehicle is to be resumed.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its severalpreferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is notto be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and describedsince the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scopeof the invention as illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A hitch mechanism for attaching a fifth wheel type trailer to thetrunk compartment of a passenger type motor vehicle, said hitchmechanism comprising:

a. frame means adapted to extend upwardly from the floor of the trunkcompartment of such passenger type vehicle and including securing meansdepending from the lower portion thereof and adapted to extend throughsaid floor for interconnection directly to the longitudinal chassisframe members of said passenger type vehicle beneath the floor of thetrunk compartment thereof, said frame having a height slightly less thanthat of said trunk compartment,

b. supporting means connected to the upper portion of said frame meansand having latch means to receive and secure the fifth wheel pin of afifth wheel type trailer to said supporting means for rotation of saidpin about a substantially vertical axis substantially at the height ofthe pin of a conventional fifth wheel trailer pin due to the height ofsaid frame means, a

c. auxiliary wheel means adapted to supplement the conventional rearwheels of saidpassenger type vehicle, and

d. means connectable directly to the longitudinal chassis frame membersof the vehicle to interconnect said auxiliary wheel means to the chassisframe of said passenger type vehicle and thereby to said frame means toaugment the ability of said conventional rear wheels of said vehicle tosupport the weight of the forward end of a fifth wheel type trailerwithout undue strain or imparting driving hazards to such trailer orvehicle.

2. The hitch according to claim 1 in which said means on the lowerportion of said frame means comprises members extending downwardlytherefrom and adapted to be directly connected to and supported by saidchassis frame of said vehicle, thereby being adapted to transmit theweight from said trailer directly to said chassis frame of said vehicle.

3. The hitch according to claim 2 in which said downwardly extendingmembers comprise cleats having means to connect the same to the outerfaces of the chassis frame members of said vehicle, and including boltsto connect said cleats to said frame means.

4. The hitch according to claim 3 in which said cleats extend downwardlyfrom the opposite ends of said frame means and are adapted to extendthrough openings when formed in the floor of the trunk area of saidvehicle to permit said cleats to be attached directly to said chassisframe.

5. The hitch according to claim 1 in which said supporting means extendsupward from the floor of the trunk compartment of said vehicle to aheight no higher than the rear deck cover of said vehicle to which saidbitch is adapted to be connected, whereby said sup- 6. The hitchaccording to claim 1 further including a supplemental axle upon whichsaid auxiliary wheel means are mounted rotatably, and spring meansconnected to said supplemental axle and having coupling means thereonadapted to be connected to said vehicle chassis frame, whereby saidauxiliary wheel means and supplemental axle are connectable to saidvehicle chassis frame in a manner to absorb shock imposed upon saidwheels during movement thereof when said vehicle is towing said trailer.

7. The hitch according to claim 6 in which the opposite ends of saidsupplemental axle when connected to said passenger type vehicle extendlaterally outward beyond the rear fenders of said vehicle to supportsaid auxiliary wheel means thereon outwardly beyond the conventionalwheels of said vehicle.

8. The hitch according to claim 6 in which the end portions of saidsupplemental axle are offset laterally from the axis of the centralportion of said axle, said offset ends of said axle rotatably supportingsaid auxiliary wheel means, and said spring means comprising torsionsprings connected between said brackets and supplemental axle andoperable to urge said auxiliary wheel means downwardly when said hitchis connected to said vehicle.

9. The hitch according to claim 8 in which the length of thesupplemental axle is greater than the width of the vehicle to which thehitch is to be connected, whereby the offset ends of said supplementalaxle extend beyond the exterior sides of the conventional rear fendersof said vehicle and said wheels are supported laterally outward fromsaid fenders of said vehicle when said auxiliary wheel means areconnected to said vehicle.

10. The hitch according to claim 9 further including supplementalfenders adapted to be attached to the exterior surfaces of the rearfenders of said vehicle and positioned to extend across the uppersurfaces of said auxiliary wheel means when connected to said vehicle.

11. The hitch according to claim 6 further including a cross memberconnectable to and extending between brackets connected to said chassisframe of said vehicle, said cross member having axle brackets connectedthereto and provided with bearings to support said supplemental axle,and spring means interconnected to said axle and operable to cushionsaid auxiliary wheel means when subjected to shock during operationthereof.

12. The hitch according to claim 11 in which said supplemental axle isshorter than the width of the vehicle to which said hitch is to beconnected, whereby said auxiliary wheel means are positioned upon saidsupplemental axle laterally inwardly from the conventional rear wheelsof said vehicle when said hitch is connected thereto.

13. The hitch and vehicle combination according to claim 1 furtherincluding a fifth wheel trailer pivotally connected to said hitchsupported by the rear trunk area of said vehicle, the forward end ofsaid trailer means within said trunk area of said vehicle.

1. A hitch mechanism for attaching a fifth wheel type trailer to thetrunk compartment of a passenger type motor vehicle, said hitchmechanism comprising: a. frame means adapted to extend upwardly from thefloor of the trunk compartment of such passenger type vehicle andincluding securing means depending from the lower portion thereof andadapted to extend through said floor for interconnection directly to thelongitudinal chassis frame members of said passenger type vehiclebeneath the floor of the trunk compartment thereof, said frame having aheight slightly less than that of said trunk compartment, b. supportingmeans connected to the upper portion of said frame means and havinglatch means to receive and secure the fifth wheel pin of a fifth wheeltype trailer to said supporting means for rotation of said pin about asubstantially vertical axis substAntially at the height of the pin of aconventional fifth wheel trailer pin due to the height of said framemeans, c. auxiliary wheel means adapted to supplement the conventionalrear wheels of said passenger type vehicle, and d. means connectabledirectly to the longitudinal chassis frame members of the vehicle tointerconnect said auxiliary wheel means to the chassis frame of saidpassenger type vehicle and thereby to said frame means to augment theability of said conventional rear wheels of said vehicle to support theweight of the forward end of a fifth wheel type trailer without unduestrain or imparting driving hazards to such trailer or vehicle.
 2. Thehitch according to claim 1 in which said means on the lower portion ofsaid frame means comprises members extending downwardly therefrom andadapted to be directly connected to and supported by said chassis frameof said vehicle, thereby being adapted to transmit the weight from saidtrailer directly to said chassis frame of said vehicle.
 3. The hitchaccording to claim 2 in which said downwardly extending members comprisecleats having means to connect the same to the outer faces of thechassis frame members of said vehicle, and including bolts to connectsaid cleats to said frame means.
 4. The hitch according to claim 3 inwhich said cleats extend downwardly from the opposite ends of said framemeans and are adapted to extend through openings when formed in thefloor of the trunk area of said vehicle to permit said cleats to beattached directly to said chassis frame.
 5. The hitch according to claim1 in which said supporting means extends upward from the floor of thetrunk compartment of said vehicle to a height no higher than the reardeck cover of said vehicle to which said hitch is adapted to beconnected, whereby said supporting means can be enclosed within thetrunk compartment of said vehicle when connected thereto and the traileris not connected to said supporting means.
 6. The hitch according toclaim 1 further including a supplemental axle upon which said auxiliarywheel means are mounted rotatably, and spring means connected to saidsupplemental axle and having coupling means thereon adapted to beconnected to said vehicle chassis frame, whereby said auxiliary wheelmeans and supplemental axle are connectable to said vehicle chassisframe in a manner to absorb shock imposed upon said wheels duringmovement thereof when said vehicle is towing said trailer.
 7. The hitchaccording to claim 6 in which the opposite ends of said supplementalaxle when connected to said passenger type vehicle extend laterallyoutward beyond the rear fenders of said vehicle to support saidauxiliary wheel means thereon outwardly beyond the conventional wheelsof said vehicle.
 8. The hitch according to claim 6 in which the endportions of said supplemental axle are offset laterally from the axis ofthe central portion of said axle, said offset ends of said axlerotatably supporting said auxiliary wheel means, and said spring meanscomprising torsion springs connected between said brackets andsupplemental axle and operable to urge said auxiliary wheel meansdownwardly when said hitch is connected to said vehicle.
 9. The hitchaccording to claim 8 in which the length of the supplemental axle isgreater than the width of the vehicle to which the hitch is to beconnected, whereby the offset ends of said supplemental axle extendbeyond the exterior sides of the conventional rear fenders of saidvehicle and said wheels are supported laterally outward from saidfenders of said vehicle when said auxiliary wheel means are connected tosaid vehicle.
 10. The hitch according to claim 9 further includingsupplemental fenders adapted to be attached to the exterior surfaces ofthe rear fenders of said vehicle and positioned to extend across theupper surfaces of said auxiliary wheel means when connected to saidvehicle.
 11. The hitch according to claim 6 further including a crossmember connectable to and extendIng between brackets connected to saidchassis frame of said vehicle, said cross member having axle bracketsconnected thereto and provided with bearings to support saidsupplemental axle, and spring means interconnected to said axle andoperable to cushion said auxiliary wheel means when subjected to shockduring operation thereof.
 12. The hitch according to claim 11 in whichsaid supplemental axle is shorter than the width of the vehicle to whichsaid hitch is to be connected, whereby said auxiliary wheel means arepositioned upon said supplemental axle laterally inwardly from theconventional rear wheels of said vehicle when said hitch is connectedthereto.
 13. The hitch and vehicle combination according to claim 1further including a fifth wheel trailer pivotally connected to saidhitch supported by the rear trunk area of said vehicle, the forward endof said trailer over-hanging the trunk portion of said passenger vehiclein at least slightly vertically spaced relationship above the upperconfines of said trunk of said vehicle, and means on said traileroperable to receive and support the rear deck cover of said vehicle whendetached from said trunk portion thereof to permit access to said hitchframe means for connection of the fifth wheel pin of said trailer tosaid supporting means on said frame means within said trunk area of saidvehicle.